It is a great honour for me to be welcoming you in our city in this launch of the Responsible Trade Facilitation Programme which is a start of a partnership between the Eastern Cape Liquor Board and Aware.org.

It is important that I first highlight that there could not have been a better location for the launch of this programme than our Metro. This is mainly because we are faced with a high number of technically illegal liquor outlets and taverns who continue to be sites for the proliferation of delinquent conduct in our city.
I am welcoming you during women’s month, a month where we are supposed to be celebrating our women as a nation but sadly it is a month where we are conducting various campaigns aimed at fighting gender-based violence and discrimination.
There is a rise of gender base violence in our country and many acts of femicide and there is no denying that this is caused by various backward and patriarchal attitudes by many men in our country. The other reality we should confront is the fact that many acts of gender-based violence are done in situations of alcohol abuse. This is not to scapegoat alcohol for the ills of men in our communities, but I wanted to highlight just how alcohol consumption contributes to an increase in these incidences.
The other factor is that fatalities in our roads are caused by drunk driving which mostly leads to reckless and negligent driving. The campaign on responsible drinking is therefore very primary if we are to make any dent towards reducing the carnage on our roads.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
It does not even need in-depth research to know that there is a correlation between illegal alcohol trading and irresponsible drinking in our communities. This campaign that is being launched here today is therefore important as it at the core of dealing with the negative effects of alcohol in our city and province.
This campaign which is aimed at promoting responsible and formal liquor trading in our communities is also important in the development of our township and rural economies. The moment the shebeens are formalised, they will also have the potential of being commercially viable businesses managed in the proper standards. This is at the core of our overall strategy of development businesses in our township and rural areas.
I must make a note of appreciation for the campaigns that the Eastern Cape Liquor Board has been conducting in our metro, one of them being the visit to schools in an attempt to raise awareness against underage drinking and its effects on our leaners. The Foetal Alcohol Syndrome campaign that the Liquor Board runs also has our appreciation and support.

Honoured Guests,
This was a way of welcoming all of you to our city and we wish this programme and this partnership between the Eastern Cape Liquor Board and Aware.Org a success.
I thank you!